Hey you, Great American!

Did you watch that new documentary series on Netflix, The American Experiment?

Well it’s because I watched all five episodes over the course of two afternoons that my thoughts keep coming ’round to aspirationalisms and grand ideals. It dawns on me that there exist deep, maybe treacherous chasms of difference between concepts like, say, idealism and exceptionalism. The latter of which, I think, is often lately mistaken for the former in practice.

History remembers, it seems. So why do we keep forgetting? Our accounts and records will never fill those daunting cracks forming in-between We the People.

We are not entitled. We are free.

I wonder if you’ve been thinking big lofty thoughts too, what with the 250th year of our country’s founding soon upon us. You must know by now, I have quite the aspirational side, and I’m liable to turn to well-told History while trying to process all my thought and feeling. I’m excited for Firework Night at Coor’s Field on the 4th, happy as always just to go watch a good game. The crowd will sing the national anthem and take me out to the ball game, then when the game’s over, we’ll all head down and grab a spot on the outfield lawn to watch the fire-spitting-rockets show.

This my ideal 4th of July. It’s how I want to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday. I am glad of my husband’s shared aspirations, and so—we will spend all evening and night at the ballpark. We’ll touch grass on the lawn, and charge up our batteries through the airs of all the other good rebellious spirits who, surely, will be in attendance. And we’ll watch the fireworks, and I’ll bet we’ll sing along to a respectable sum of all-time American classic hits, full of pageantry and an excess of brass, and we’ll have fun. And we’ll have hope.

This month is my first state primary as a registered voter in Colorado. I find that I am happy to exercise my vote here, and only a little irked that I never got my ballot in the mail. If you’re wondering if I’m gonna get back to that Netflix documentary series, The American Experiment I opened with, pay finer attention. Although I had expected to vote by mail (which is my preference), alas, my only option now is to go in-person if, indeed, should I wish to participate in this key step of our great democratic process.

So I’ll go to a polling station, of course, as I am of capable wits and means to show up and vote on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. I possess the will, and the way is clear. I’m registered. I have all my documents.

An inconvenience. Irksome. But not a problem. Refreshing my working knowledge and understanding of some early aspects of our national design (take the Three-Fifths Compromise) tempers my more contrary energies. I have achieved some of what I believe the Revolutionaries envisioned for the future. Liberty and her free exercises.

The American Experiment was good. I clicked “I loved this!” So, if you like watching Period Histories, it’s well-done and educational and thought provoking. It’s a conversation starter.

And we need to talk, don’t we?

Worried you’ll just get shouted down? I have been. Scared you’ll lose your temper if you say whatever it is you’ve resolved to never bring up in certain company? Yup. Convinced you can’t see eye to eye? That even broaching the topic might cause such strain, it’s hardly worth the confrontation in the first place?

Totally. I get that. But my gut still says, tough. There’s stuff we have to talk through. We’re only going to be 250. We the People are barely past infancy. There are generations upon generations coming who will benefit from our collective, collected wisdom as self-governed people.

The Experiment must continue.

You need not watch a historical documentary series, nor possess an ounce of good learning, to speak freely about what it means to be an American. That is your right as well as it is mine.

We are exceptional only so long as we aspire to keep marching on, toward our more perfect union.

❧
06-27-2026
@bykaileyann // @hederareads